As he grew older, the younger Abe Lincoln came to realize that his father was rather unambitious. Abe grew restless and decided he wanted more out of life.

Most importantly, Abe discovered he had little in common with his father's side of the family. He believed that he inherited his inquisitive nature, sharp mind, and ambition from his unknown maternal grandfather.

This is ascertained by Lincoln biographer William Herndon,who wrote:"On the subject of his ancestry and origin I only remember one time when Mr. Lincoln ever referred to it... He said, among other things, that [his mother] was the illegitimate daughter of Lucy Hanks and a well-bred Virginia farmer or planter; and he argued that from this last source came his power of analysis, his logic, his mental activity, his ambition, and all the qualities that distinguished him from the other members and descendants of the Hanks family."

When Abe began his political career in the 1840s, he would capitalize on his family's "humble" origins. Doing so would help Abe win the presidency in 1860.

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Ben M. Angel notes:

Hanks is Lucy's maiden name. Nancy Hanks was born out of wedlock and retained her mother's name, even after Lucy Hanks married Henry Sparrow on 3 April 1791.